Objectives：In the process of coal mining and coalbed methane exploration and development, Current in- situ stress is a non- negligible geological factor. This paper mainly studies the current in- situ stress characteristics and distribution of coal reservoirs above depth of 1,300 meters in the shallow part of China's coal- bearing basins. Methods: Based on the current in- situ stress data of 26 coal mines or coalbed methane blocks, the in- situ stress and lateral pressure coefficients of different regions were compared and analyzed. The current in- situ stress characteristics and distribution of different coal- bearing basins were summarized. Results: The study shows that the proportion of strike- slip stress field（σH > σV > σh）in the eastern region is high, and gradually decreases to the northwest regions; The difference of proportion of medium—high stress field in China's coal- bearing basins is relatively small. The current in- situ stress field and the magnitude of the current in- situ stress are related to the buried depth. With the increase of the mining depth of coal- bearing basins in China, the normal stress field（σV > σH > σh）gradually takes the leading role, and the magnitude of the in- situ stress also gradually increases. The current in- situ stress intensity of China's coal- bearing basins is divided by the comparison of lateral pressure coefficient: the northeast region is a high stress area; the Lianghuai is a medium—high stress area; the Eastern Yunnan—Western Guizhou and the Qinshui basin are medium- stress areas; Ordos Basin (East edge) and Junggar Basin (South) are low stress areas. The subduction of the plate formed the distribution pattern of the current in- situ stress intensity in the coal- bearing basins in China, which is strong in the east and weak in the west. The Luliang Mountain in the north—south direction is the boundary between the east and west stress intensity in northern China. The in- situ stress intensity weakens toward the direction away from the source of force. This change law is significant at Chinese mainland scale as well as at sub- region scale (for example, in the Qinshui Basin and in the Eastern Yunnan—Western Guizhou area). Conclusions: The characteristics of current in- situ stress field in China are different in different coal- bearing basins, and the current in- situ stress intensity shows a distributed law, which is strong in the east and weak in the west. This paper has certain guiding significance for the mining of coal- bearing basins.